Bishop's Dinner & Awards Ceremony Press Release

The 2017 Bishop’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony will present the Saint Joseph the Worker Awards

The Ceremony honors the work of people and organizations that enhance the quality of life for the community.

The Most Reverend James Alan Wilkowski announced today that the 2017 Bishop’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony for the 20^th anniversary of the consecration of the Church will be on Saturday, November 4^th at the Diplomat West Banquets.

The Dinner, which also commemorates the 20^th anniversary of the Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Wilkowski, will honor the work of individuals and organizations with the Saint Joseph the Worker Award.

The Bishop selected the Saint Joseph the Worker Award because those chosen to be honored have witnessed the example of Joseph – working for the greater good and doing so with love and humility. The annual celebration provides the Bishop and the Evangelical Catholic Diocese of the Northwest the occasion to simply say “Thank you” to the Honorees.

Bill Morton:  “It is my honor to accept Bishop James Alan Wilkowski’s nomination for the Saint Joseph the Worker Award. I will be joining alumni who have received the award in the past including the following.

Anthony Martinez, Equality Illinois
The Honorable Mariyana Spyropoulos, President, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Rocco J. Claps, Director, Illinois Department of Human Rights
Hispanic American Construction Association, Chicago
The Honorable Harry Osterman, Alderman, 48^th Ward, City of Chicago
Paula Basta, Regional Director, Northeast Senior Center, City of Chicago
The Honorable George Cardenas, Alderman, 12^th Ward, City of Chicago
The Honorable Greg Harris, Illinois State Representative, 13^th District
The Heartland Alliance for Human Rights and Human Needs, Chicago
Kristofer Luck, Quest Network Services, Chicago
Jason Knowles, ABC 7 News, Chicago
The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7, Chicago
Bernie Tafoya, WBBM News Radio, Chicago
The Honorable Toni Preckwinkle, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
The Honorable Karen Yarbrough, Illinois State Representative, 7^th District

The Honorable John A. Fritchey, Cook County Commissioner, 12^th District

Rick Garcia, LGBT activist 
The Honorable Roberto Maldonado, Alderman, 26^th Ward, City of Chicago

The Honorable Joe Moore, Alderman, 49^th Ward, City of Chicago

The Honorable Deborah Sims, Cook County Commissioner, 5^th District”

For 2017, Bishop Wilkowski will honor the following.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Joseph N. Di Natale, JD, the EMS Roaddocs

Fire Department of Hammond, Indiana

Darlene Kenny, CTRS, Director, Recreation Therapy/Child Life Department, Shriners Hospitals for Children

William R. Morton, President, Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce

Holly Wright, LSW, Fisher House Manager, Hines VA Hospital

The Dinner’s Master of Ceremonies is Rick Garcia, with guest speaker, the Honorable John Fritchey, Cook County Board Commissioner. Dinner tickets are $50.00 per person, and tables of ten, $500.00.

Reservations may be secured with your tax-deductible check made payable to Diocese of the Northwest, Post Office Box 17033, no later than October 30, 2017.  To learn more about the event, please visit  http://www.diocesenw.org/bishopsdinner.htm.

For more information or interview, please call Bishop James Alan Wilkowski's 773-721-5383